Miami students win regional Ethics Bowl

11/05/1999

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A Miami University team won the inaugural Indiana Regional Ethics Bowl Oct. 30, beating teams from six other schools.

Students fielded questions from moderators about difficult case studies in ethics, and then faced rigorous follow-up questioning by judges. Miami's first team, made of students from various majors, won with 105 points. A second Miami team also fared well.

They competed against teams from DePauw University, Butler University College of Pharmacy, Butler University College of Business, Taylor University-Upland, Taylor University-Ft. Wayne and Marian College, which hosted the bowl.

Judges for the event were corporate and civic leaders from Indianapolis and Columbus, including judges, attorneys, and vice presidents.

Miami's first team included junior Nichole Sturm, the team captain; sophomore Catherine Dilley; and John Newell and Justin Shoemacher, both freshmen. The second Miami team included sophomore Cara Killkelley, junior Vinay Reddy and Nabeel Razzaki and Brad Ryan, both freshmen. Many other Miami students attended, taking notes for their Philosophy 131 classes and providing important social support, said ethics team adviser Sally Bishop Merrill, visiting assistant professor of philosophy.

The Miami teams had consulted with the Department of Naval Affairs and several local professionals on cases in professional ethics in psychiatry and diplomacy. "All the team members worked hard, prepared well-reasoned, logically consistent and intelligible responses to cases, and performed in a focused way under considerable stress," said Merrill. "The judges made a special point of remarking on the quality of the Miami teams."

The Ethics Bowl is sponsored by corporate donations and by the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics. At the regional bowl, sponsored by the Indianapolis Life Insurance Co., students heard about the importance of trust and the ethical relationship at the core of business.